The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-06-03
the FEArHERwE,cHT.

JHe teAT6eHWeI00ts
Description o1 . Cedar Boat Especially
Adapted for Duck Aunting.
The 'Feaiherweight" Il the name OF
my little cedar boat. She is ten feet
long. three feet wide and weighs thirty
FIVE pounds on the scales. can take
her up on the fat Of one hand and hold
her balanced at arms length above my
head. She is built Of quarterback
cedar strips lapstreak, and fastened
throughout with copper rivets. There
is not a nail or . screw in her; every
thing is riveted, even to the ribs. She
will carry two persons comfortably.
but prefers one-especially If that one
is myself. / had her built to order for
my annual ducking trips. Before that
time had always used a folding can
vas boat, but the trouble of getting this
craft into shape and out of shape. and
combating her chronic disposition to
become waterlogged, convinced me
that 1 ought to have something handler
and better in the line of portable
ducking boat. So I sought out the
most intelligent boat-builder 1 knew
and asked him how light he could build
a boat for one or two persons, that
would use both oars and paddle, and
be reasonably safe in q light swell. He
said he thought he could build down
to forty pounds under the specifica-
tons, and if he didn't do it was not
obliged to take the boat. 1 told him to
go ahead and the result of that contract
was the 'Featherweight." When my
boat-builder told me that he had come
five pounds under his own estimate ]
couldn't believe him; but he picked up
he''Featherweight" and put her on the
scales and saw that he was right. To
say that was delighted is putting II
very mildly. certainly should have
Rugged the builder, if he hadn't been
all covered with varnish. and paint,
and oil, and other substances rather
discouraging to such demonstration.
As it was, l contented myself by maxi
ing him accept S more than he charged
for his work, as slight testimonial Of
my appreciation.
The ''Featherweight" has now been
my constant companion for five duck
ing seasons, and should as soon think
of going without her as of not leaving
my wife at home! Making portages
with this little boat is simply delight
full, after the trouble l have had with
canvas boat. 1t is like fording a stream
with pretty girl on ones shoulders.
l pick up Miss ''Featherweight." with
all my traps in her, set her on top Of
my canvas helmet, and march off as
lightly and as gracefully as an Italian
water girl with her pitcher on her head.
If trip or slip and tumble down.
''Featherweight" doesn't mind It in the
least She is as strong and as flexible
as an Indian bow. She has stood all
sorts of knocks and thumps, has been
grounded on all sorts of beaches, push
ed into all sorts of tangles. dragged
over all sorts of distractions. laden
down with all sorts of plumber, left out
in all sorts Of weather, and in general
abused with all sorts of barbarity. and
she is just as strong and sound and
serviceable to-day as the day she left
her makers shop. Two or three fresh
coats of paint is all she has had to keep
her in trim; but, of course. like all
maidens, one couldn't expect her to
get along without her cosmetics.
Last season I took the Feather
weight to the marshes of St. Peter.
on the St. Lawrence. After we left the
cars she had to carry one hundred
pounds Of baggage, beside myself, and
yet we crossed Lake st. Peter in reg
ular squall (the lake is famous for
them), and never took in drop Of
water. In some parts of the marshes
the water don't average three inches in
depth, but 1 padded and pushed the
"Featherweight" from stand to stand
without the slightest difficulty. and
when 1t came to crossing the divides
and carrying from pond to pond. ii
was just luxury for me. compared with
the struggles and mishaps Of some Of
my fellow sportsmen.
My advice to every sportsman who
does much duck shooting in inland
waters is to get him as light cedar
boat as can be built; and if you find the
right sort of q builder it can be made
astonishingly light. Then you will
have all the advantages rs to stanch-
ness, roominess. safety and speed of q
rOw-boat, combined with the lightness
and hardness Of q canoe. find moth
ing equal to this sort of . craft for duck.
ing on marshes and overlooked land.
You need not be afraid of venturing
into quite rough water, and at the same
time you can get anywhere in a marsh
the same as with canoe. ], for one,
shall part with the "Featherweight''
when she parts with me-in the middle
mot before.-Pdwl PastuoS, in Detroit
Free Press.
Ailments Of Poultry.